The
Revd Simon Richardson was Instituted as the new rector of St
Malachy�s, Hillsborough at a service in the parish church on
Tuesday evening, 24th June 2008. The Right Rev Harold Miller
(Bishop of Down & Dromore) conducted the service and the Revd
Canon David McClay, rector of Willowfield and Priest-in-charge
of Mount Merrion, Belfast, was the preacher.
The vacancy in Hillsborough followed the retirement of the Revd
John Dinnen at the end of December 2007. Simon was appointed as
curate in Hillsborough in 2006, and prior to that had been an
Assistant Curate in Folkestone, Kent.
Among the packed congregation of family, friends, parishioners
and other clergy were some folks from Kent, who had travelled
over to Hillsborough for the service.
Mr Richardson�s �promotion� from curate to rector of a parish is
a rare event in the Church of Ireland - it is commonly believed
that this last happened in 1954, when the Revd Ernest Shepherd
was made incumbent of St John's in Whitehouse after serving his
curacy in the parishes. The Revd Shepherd remained in St John�s
until his retirement in 1996.
26/06/2008
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